In a first, Pakistan’s Sindh province government has employed three transgenders in different departments.

Sindh Minister for Social Welfare and Development Rubina Qaimkhani confirmed the appointment of Riffay Khan, Muskaan and Anjum on Thursday.

Riffay holds a masters degree, whereas Muskaan and Anjum have both completed their schooling up to matriculation.

According to official estimates, there are around 500,000 “gender confused” people in Pakistan and these include eunuchs, hermaphrodites, transsexuals, transvestites and homosexuals in addition to castrated men.

Qaimkhani said this was the preliminary phase and that other members of the transgender community would also soon be given jobs.

Riffay told reporters he was very happy that the government, while regarding them as respectable citizens of society, provided them jobs.

In 2011, Pakistan’s Supreme Court gave a ruling that transgenders should be issued national ID cards and registered as voters and allowed to cast votes which they did in the general elections in May last year.